Natural gas wells created by fracking in Pennsylvania may elevate the number of asthma attacks for nearby asthma patients, according to a study published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine. Continue reading →

Over the past six years, earthquakes in Oklahoma have skyrocketed – from less than a handful of 3.0 quakes before 2009 to well over 900 last year. The likely culprit: salty wastewater that bubbles up during oil and gas drilling. The rash of quakes has led to tough questions for the energy industry that provides one in five jobs in the state and comprises nearly a third of Oklahoma’s economy. NewsHour’s Stephen Fee reports. Continue reading →

The Environmental Protection Agency says hydraulic fracturing activities have not led to widespread harm to drinking water in the United States. But the agency also says the controversial drilling technique could affect drinking water if safeguards aren’t maintained. Continue reading →

There has been a sharp increase in the number of earthquakes in Oklahoma in recent years. Some observers have suggested the rise of oil and gas drilling is responsible. The state’s government, however, hasn’t acknowledged that link until now. Gwen Ifill talks to Joe Wertz of StateImpact Oklahoma about the connection. Continue reading →

With the U.S. poised to become the largest producer of oil and gas in the world, the Obama administration announced the first federal regulations for fracking. Though the regulations are only for federal lands, they’re seen as a benchmark for states. Amy Harder of The Wall Street Journal joins Hari Sreenivasan to take a look at the new regulations and the pushback. Continue reading →